To speak to HR about this

[HRornottoHR]

or just let it go? I wouldn't go and make a complaint as such, just mention it in a "hey I'm pissed off".

I'll try and make it as short as possible.

Where I work, we are extremely short on support staff. When the recession started a few years back many people were made redundant. Now things have picked up a lot, but the staff have not been replaced.

I work for four people, everyone else in the office works for two or three people except the two senior secretaries who also work for four people (bear in mind less than two years ago I was a junior!). However, the most senior man in our department (let's call him Steve) is the only person in the office to have his own dedicated secretary (which to be honest he creates a lot of work and I feel nothing but sympathy for his secretary).

Anyway, Steve's secretary has been away, so in her absence he has been giving me lots of work to do. So much so that I have had to put aside the work of my four regular bosses to do his work. My bosses are all very lovely and are not minded by the fact that their work has taken the back bench so to speak. They appreciate that in normal day to day running I am overloaded even without Steve.

So in a meeting recently, in with my four bosses present, the subject of support staff came up and Steve mentioned that when his secretary is away, he copes on his own and does everything himself (although mentioned I typed up a couple of short letters). To say that I was aghast was an understatement. I have been run ragged these last few days. Whilst I appreciate it takes him 30 seconds to give me instructions, it takes a hell of a lot longer to do it in practise, not least because I'm learning someone else's methods (whilst the end result for them all is the same, they all do things very differently).

Plus he was basically insinuating that I am a liar and lazy, considering that whilst my bosses have been giving me work, and I've been saying to them "I'm sorry is it urgent, if not it may be a day or two before it's done because of Steve" and he's there saying he does it all himself (he even asked me to do some personal bits for him)!!!

I often get comments from a couple of colleagues about how busy I am generally and it's not fair. However I always tell them that I am always asked by my immediate line managers if I'm ok, and if I am coping etc. I LOVE my job and love the people I work for and say that I'd be devastated if they said that they'd only make me work for two people as I could never choose out of the four, plus I find it all so interesting, and will ask for help if needed (but as I say, we are short on support staff so everyone is overworked at the moment).

Sorry I'm losing track. Three out of my four bosses know that Steve is talking bollocks, and I will be talking to the fourth about it tomorrow.

I was having a rant about this to someone who I don't work with, who suggested I talk to HR about Steve's comment as (in her words) "it was derogatory". Whilst his comment has pissed me right off, I wouldn't have the balls to make a complaint as 1, he still scares me shitless and 2, at the end of the day, he is the one who essentially pays me month to month. But the woman in HR is LOVELY as well, and I often can talk to her about anything (was even sobbing in her office once due to personal events going on in my life ). I just feel I need to have a rant about it, but not necessarily for anything to be done about it.

I just feel unappreciated by Steve, and made to feel lazy (even though several colleagues as stated above feel my workload is unfair). So do I mention it, or just stew and let it go?

As long as your bosses know the deal I wouldnt go to HR, however I would definitely corner 'Steve' at the next opportunity and ask why he said what he did as both both know it is not the truth!

You can't get in trouble being honest can you?

Personally, I would pull Steve aside and speak to him about how you feel.

What do you want to get out of having a discussion with HR? A resolution? Or just a rant?

If it is a rant, i wouldn't speak to HR. I would aim that rant at Steve, he's caused you to feel angry / upset in the workplace, and as a Senior Manager, he should take responsibility for that.

Request a meeting with him and state that you feel let down by him because of x,y&z and that ultimately his comments were out of order given how much you have done for him lately.

I work in HR myself and if you came to me with this problem, I would ask you to consider talking to Steve yourself.

Alternatively, I would potentially offer to speak to Steve myself (with your permission) but i would want to be clear about what you would want to get out of me intervening. The discussion with Steve would probably be more about coaching him so that he appreciates the work that others do for him, rather than him physically saying anything to you.

A few things come to mind to help with the next time this comes up:

I'd recommend keeping a log of his requests, and the time taken to do them.

Does he insist that you drop everything to prioritise his requests, or is it that you've been doing this as he's the most senior manager?
If the former, then, continue to do as he asks, within the time frame he's set, but let him know that XX's responses will be delayed as a result.
If the latter, then schedule his requests into your standard work, and give him a completion time.

Keep a record of all of the successful efforts and use to demonstrate efficiency / back-up any pay rise requests for your next appraisal.

As long as your line managers are aware of your workloads and happy you are managing your role(s) as required, I wouldn't worry too much about Steve. If there are issues, the above will allow you to request your manager / HR to raise things with him, if you don't feel able to.

As long as your bosses know the score I wouldn't bother. You most certainly can get into trouble for telling the truth, unfortunately. I would keep a log of all his requests though, in case there is ever any doubt or dispute over it.

Thank you for reading my stupidly long post

One of my bosses said I should 'call him on it', but I find it very difficult to talk to him about anything, even work related stuff as he is so unpredictable in his moods.

I think I will leave (and you never know, if he pushes me over the edge I may work up the courage to speak to him).

Moonlight - he expects his work to be prioritised over everyone else's, and actually used the phrase "I'm pulling rank" when I said I was busy one day. I do think you are right though in keeping a record of tasks he asks me to do etc.

Thank you again for your advice

HR - if he's using that phrase then fine, just respond with 'so you are, no problem...'.

Don't worry about 'calling him on it' if you're not comfortable. However, if you really love your role apart from having to deal with Steve, don't leave the job over this - mention this to your boss(es) in your next appraisal (or sooner if it's starting to grate).
A long time ago I was considering the same (but due to a lazy-arsed colleague, rather than a boss), brought it up in the appraisal, which shocked my then manager as apparently it wasn't obvious from the outside (too good at what I did ). It had the beneficial effect of them putting a plan in place, with me, to keep me.
Might well be the same with you, so don't rule it out. If it doesn't work, then you've still got a nice record of your effectiveness and efficiency to bring to any interview you decide to go to.

Aw crap, I meant "just leave it". Sorry, I wouldn't leave my job just because of Steve (unless I was in the unfortunate position of working directly for him)

I blame absolute tiredness.

I second the idea of logging all the work (personal and otherwise that you do for him)

I know you are doing work for a number of people, but who is your Line Manager. I would discuss with them - they should be helping you to manage your workload. In fact, Steve should be clearing the work he needs done with them first or agreeing a number of hours support that he needs in the absence of his secretary.

He sounds like an arse and I am not surprised that his comments have upset you.

Steve is an absolute arse, and my line manager has been very supportive (the secretarial co-ordinator). Although she knows that we're short staffed and her attitude is "you can only do what you can do". She also knows that no one would voluntarily do Steve's work unless he asked them specifically.

Lifechanger - I have been saying that to my four bosses, although one on one rather than in email but I do like the idea

I think it is the job of your most senior boss to have a word with Steve.

If he is 'pulling rank' then he is pulling it over them so they need to know that is what is happening and also have the opportunity to decide if that is impacting their work to the point where it needs to change.

Careful with the emails, once something is written down it is permanent if you are going to send it, word it extremely carefully to ensure you don't sound like you are slating the boss. That would be a big mistake.

Don't send that email!!!

I wouldn't appreciate it at all if one of my employees sent me one similar. I don't want to be getting drawn into passive aggressive mind games, it isn't the fucking playground.

Ultimately if it's so much of a problem, speak to him. But you're both probably right. He probably doesn't give you all of the work he would give his usual secretary, I know I don't when mine is off.

If you go to HR you need to decide what you want to happen.

You're right about the emails Morloth.

I have to say it's quite sad in a way because up until this happened, whilst I didn't like the man, I had respect for him as a boss and for the work he did but that respect has lessened somewhat now.

Thanks Squidgy. I don't think he would appreciate it either. I think I'll just leave it. By going to HR I would just be ranting and not necessarily want anything to be done.

The main thing isvthat the people I usually work for know he's talking out of his arse and that they appreciate me (and always let me know too). Steve's normal secretary is back soon, and it's only 5 weeks in the year.

If you do not want HR to act on the information about Steve I would not say anything to them. There seems little point and I'm not sure what it would achieve.

As long as your colleagues are aware of the level of work you are taking on, that is okay. As other posters have suggested I would also begin to keep a diary/ log of the work you are being given by Steve- just in case anybody does want to ask you questions about your workload or do begin to ask why other tasks are not being prioritised.

I would probably leave it there for now if it I'd the workload issue giving you the most cause for concern.

Years ago I was in a junior role in my current organisation and one of the big bosses I worked with scared everyone. He was demanding in his manner and actually a bit of a bully. He got away with lots of inappropriate behaviour because he frightened staff. I was belittled by him on many occasions as he saw me as a bit of a target at that time (21 and a recent graduate, limited working experience). After an incident when he printed off an email I had sent to him, highlighted errors in it and read them out aloud to the team I called him on it. I did it articulately and directly.... and he avoided me in the future. I progressed really rapidly in my career thereafter and so challenging his behaviour did not do me any harm in that respect.

You have mentioned in your Op perhaps speaking to Steve directly too. Unless you feel he is being a bit of a tyrant and disrespectful to you in the course of giving you additional tasks I would not do that yet. Of course, if he does speak to you in a derogatory way in your view, you should challenge this and maybe with regards to doing this you may wish to refer to HR.

"... I find it very difficult to talk to him about anything, even work related stuff as he is so unpredictable in his moods .."

To me, he sounds rather childish and would probably react badly to any criticism or complaints.

When does his secretary return - can you hold on until then? If most of the other staff know the situation it's probably not worth the trouble.

Definitely email Steve, cc everyone else, confirming everything you've done for clarification purposes. Make it look like handover notes for when his sec comes back.

Poor management, political management.

1. Steve is trying to get 'I can reduce support staff' points - he is insinuating that the dept needs less secretarial support.
2. You should contact steve, say you have been working up for a period, and handling your normal role (no complaints!) and ask for an extra responsibility payment. He either approves and hides his comments or blocks and you tell HR - you will have him in a bind.
3. Note the time and date he said 'pulling rank'. Keep printed out any email requests/interchanges about work for Steve
4. Send steve an email after he passes work to you confirming the request and telling him when it can be fitted in eg 'Re arranging your meeting with x, y, z and the two letters, I have some work to do for Boss1. I can get these to you by wed evening is that OK'. Hopefully he will respond by email saying 'do mine first' or whatever, and that will back up your dual responsibility.

BTW its your bosses job to call him on it not yours.. your boss is inviting you to criticise steve whilst he/she melts away... shocking. he/she needs to have a sharp word with steve. steve needs to get a temp either for her jon or to support you in yours.

note steve's sec is also angling for 'i am hrornothr's senior (she is instructing you to cover her work) no doubt to seem more 'managerial' than she is (and no doubt there are salary points for 'supervision'. These signals alone suggest dept under pressure. You could see this as opportunity to work up too take your senior's job. Could be worth taalking to head of dept, explain problem and suggest YOU get temp to manage and handle all of it between you - suggest to HoD that you sit in on interview for temp. cost it all out first with usual agency - speak to admin in another dept for advice about how temps can be recruited.

If you can, suggest a work breakdown that you can manage eg 'I can separate typing, planning and filing tasks to junior for all, and split the more complicated tasks into simple and complicated and manage them that way.'

If you can, be cheeky and suggest that the HoD ask Steve to authorise you to arrange temp 'as he is so busy at the moment without his usual support'

win all round?!

Perhaps Steve does do some of the work his secretary usually does whilist she is away and doesn't pass all of it to you?

And perhaps he is suggesting that other managers also do more of their own secretarial work?

Keeping a log of what work you do for him and how long it takes sounds like a sensible thing to do

Keep a timesheet.
Tell Steve he is extracting the proverbial Michael and tell him he owes you a LOT of cake given the fact you have been propping him up.
Then manoeuvre yourself into a job where Steve is working for you! [cheeky emoticon, but more women should do that]